Soil conditioner

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are soil conditioning products comprising: (1) one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a wax and a gel, or (2) a carrier and one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a wax and a gel. The wax is preferably a soy wax and the oil is preferably a soy oil. The invention further includes surface materials comprising a soil and a soil conditioning product according to the invention. Other materials may be added to any of these soil conditioning products or surface materials. If a carrier is used the soil conditioning product may be added to soil as a granular material, rather than as a gel or liquid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/452,107, filed Jun. 12, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of andclaims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/007,658, filedDec. 7, 2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to products that can be used to condition soil,surface materials comprising the products and soil, and processes formaking the surface materials. Soil conditioning products according tothe invention preferably include (a) a carrier and one or more of anoil, a polymeric binder, a gel and a wax, or (b) one or more of an oil,a polymeric binder, a gel and a wax. Surface materials according to theinvention include a soil combined with a soil conditioning productaccording to the invention.

2. Background of the Invention

As used herein and throughout, the terms in quotations below are definedas follows:

-   -   a. The term “sand” refers to any granular material formed by the        disintegration of rocks to form particles smaller than gravel        but coarser than silt. Sand may or may not include organic        matter.    -   b. The term “silt” refers to any unconsolidated sedimentary        material with rock particles usually 1/20 millimeter or less in        diameter, and being generally smaller than sand but coarser than        clay. Silt may or may not include organic matter.    -   c. The term “clay” refers to any (1) inorganic earth surface        material that is plastic when moist but hard when fired and that        is comprised primarily of hydrous aluminum silicates and/or        other minerals, or (2) substance having the properties of clay.        Clay includes dry or wet materials and may or may not include        organic matter.    -   d. The term “organic binder” refers to any carrier that consists        primarily of organic matter and that tends to bind soil        particles together when mixed with soil, wetted and subsequently        dried. Organic binders include dried and ground plantago.    -   e. The term “carrier” refers to any material that is granular        (or particulate) at room temperature and that, when mixed with        one or more of a particular oil, polymeric binder, gel and/or        wax forms a soil conditioning product that may be mixed with        soil as a granular material rather than as a liquid. The carrier        is preferably an organic binder such as dried and ground        plantago.    -   f. The term “fibers” refers to any fibers, ribbons or strips of        material used to add mechanical strength to soil.    -   g. The term “soil conditioning product” or “soil conditioner”        means any mixture of (a) carrier and one or more of: oil,        polymeric binder, gel and wax, wherein the soil conditioner is a        granular material at least at temperatures between about 60°        F.-90° F., and more preferably at temperatures between about 40°        F.-100° F., or even a greater range, and that can bind together        soil particles, or (b) one or more of: an oil, a polymeric        binder, a gel and a wax.    -   h. The term “surface material” means any mixture of soil and a        soil conditioning product according to the invention.

It is known to mix organic binder with soil to create an improvedsurface material and such a process and product are disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. Re. 35,989 to Hubbs et al. A basic description of one processaccording to that invention is to mix dried and ground plantago withsoil, place the mixture on the ground or other surface in preferreddepths of 2″-6″, wet the mixture, compress it and allow it to dry. Theresulting surface is hard and this product and process may be used for,among other things, to form a surface on highway berms, parking lots,golf cart paths, walking paths, or baseball infield base paths. Whilethis product has been successful, it must be wetted thoroughly andcompacted to create a good surface. Further, before being wetted thereis no adhesion between the soil and organic soil binder, so it can bedifficult to position the material on a slope since the mixture tends toslide down the slope. Additionally, the resulting surface is not waterresistant.

Another known way to condition soil is to simply use a polymeric binder.Known polymeric binders are usually solid, tacky materials attemperatures below 100° F. and must be heated (into a syrup-likeconsistency) and mixed with soil, which is a time consuming anddifficult process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,166 to Beardon discloses a groundsurface material comprising sand and at least one of clay or silt and abinder including an interpolymer polymeric binder dissolved or dispersedin a non or low aromatic oil.

The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,746,546 and 6,821,332 to Hubbs areincorporated herein by reference. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No.5,559,166, to the extent it discloses oils and polymeric binders thatmay be used, is also incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to soil conditioning products, processesfor making same, surface materials including soil and a soilconditioning product, and processes for making same.

A soil conditioning product according to the invention preferablyincludes (a) a carrier, and one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, agel and a wax, or (b) one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a geland a wax. Preferably the wax is a soy wax and the oil is a soy oil.Other materials may be added to any of these soil conditioning products.

A preferred process for making a soil conditioner comprises adding oil,polymeric binder, gel and/or wax (collectively, “constituents” andsingly “constituent”) to a carrier. The one or more constituents aremixed with the carrier in such a manner that the carrier absorbs atleast some of the constituents so that the resulting soil conditioner isgranular at least at temperatures between 60° F. and 90° F. Theconstituent(s) may also be emulsified and added to the carrier as one ormore emulsifications.

If multiple constituents are utilized, they are preferably mixedtogether before being mixed with the carrier or being mixed directlywith soil. The mixing is done at a temperature at which the constituentsutilized will mix together. Further, multiple constituents could beemulsified and mixed, or possibly emulsified together. Emulsifiedconstituents may be added to a carrier or soil alone or in addition toother emulsified or non-emulsified constituents. Constituents may beadded at different times to a carrier or soil, and other materials mayalso be added.

Surface materials according to the present invention include soil and asoil conditioning product. The surface material may optionally comprisematerials other than soil, carrier and/or constituent(s).

A process for making a surface material comprises mixing a soilconditioner according to the invention with soil. Other materials mayalso be added. Granular soil conditioner utilizing a carrier could bemixed with soil using mixing techniques such as pug mill blending,raking, hoeing or bucket blending. Soil conditioner not utilizing acarrier may be added to soil as an emulsion or as a liquid, which mayrequire heating of the constituent(s) before being mixed with soil. Sucha soil conditioner can be mixed with the soil using any suitabletechnique, such as a concrete mixer or by raking, hoeing or bucketblending.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1( a) is a block diagram of a method for making a soil conditioningproduct according to the invention.

FIG. 1( b) is a block diagram of another method for making a soilconditioning product according to the invention.

FIG. 2( a) is a block diagram of a method for making a surface materialaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2( b) is a block diagram of another method for making a surfacematerial according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a soil conditioning product comprising(1) a carrier plus one or more of the following: an oil, a polymericbinder, a gel and a wax, or (2) one or more of an oil, a gel, apolymeric binder and a wax. Each of these components is described below.

Carrier

A soil conditioning product and surface material according to theinvention may include a carrier (as used herein “a” carrier means one ormore carriers). The carrier is preferably one or more organic binders,such as dried and ground plantago. If dried and ground plantago is used,it preferably includes plantago seed husk and preferably includes 80% ormore plantago seed husk, and most preferably includes 90% or more seedhusk. Other binders, either organic (such as powdered guar gum) orinorganic, may be utilized alone or in combination. In the preferredembodiment, the carrier or organic binder is one that absorbs or adsorbspart of the oil, gel, polymeric binder and/or wax so that the resultingsoil conditioning product can be added (preferably without heating) tosoil as a granular material at temperatures of at least between about60° F. and 90° F. and most preferably at even a wider range oftemperatures.

The amount and type of carrier or organic binder included is chosen toprovide the desired properties of the soil conditioning product.Preferably a soil conditioning product that includes carrier comprisesbetween 20 and 80% by weight carrier, although other weight percentagesmay be utilized depending upon the nature of the carrier and the type(s)of oil, polymeric binder, gel and/or wax added, the type of soil towhich the soil conditioner is to be added, and the desired properties ofthe conditioned soil.

Oil

The term “oil” means any substance, such as a non or low aromatic oil,paraffinic oil, soy bean oil, cotton seed oil, other vegetable oil,petroleum oil, or mineral oil, into which a polymeric binder can bedispersed or dissolved. “Oil” could also be an aqueous solution,depending upon the nature of the carrier (if utilized) and otherconstituents (if utilized), although a non-aqueous solution ispreferred. As used herein, “an” oil refers to one or more oils. An oilmay alone, or in combination with one or more other constituents, beadded to soil or a carrier in any suitable form, such as a liquid (withor without heating) or as one or more emulsions. In one aspect of thepresent invention the purpose of the oil is to provide a medium in whichto dissolve or disperse the polymeric binder, gel and/or wax and createa formulation that may be mixed with the carrier to form a substancethat can be added to soil as a granular material.

Among the suitable petroleum oils are those containing low or noaromatic fractions, and that are generally fluid at temperatures between30° F. and 120° F. Examples of oils suitable for use in the presentinvention include paraffinic oils and low-aromatic naphthenic oils. Acommercially available example of a paraffinic oil includes EXXON's 150SE solvent extracted bright stock FN-2507, and of a low-aromaticnaphthenic oil includes Cyclolube No. 2290 available from Witco.Additionally, soy oil, cotton seed oil, other vegetable oils, or mineraloil may be used. The most preferred oil is soy oil. An example of acommercially available soy oil is Archer Soybean Oil, product no.86-070-0 available from Archer Daniels Midland Company, Oils and FatsDivision, 4666 Faries Parkway, Ill. HT-100 mineral oil from IGI is mostpreferred among mineral oils.

Polymeric Binder

A polymeric binder according to the invention is any substance that maybe dissolved or dispersed in an oil, that is tackier than and has ahigher viscosity than the oil, and that provides adhesion between soilparticles. As used herein, “a” polymeric binder means one or morepolymeric binders. The polymeric binder helps to seal the outer surfaceof the surface material, because of the particle adhesion it provides,and because it preferably is water resistant. A polymeric binder mayalone, or in combination with one or more other constituents, be addedto a soil or a carrier in any suitable form, such as a liquid (with orwithout heating, depending on the properties of the polymeric binder) oras one or more emulsions.

Polymeric binders suitable for use in the present invention includeinterpolymers of butene, ethylene and/or propylene with ethylenicallyunsaturated monomers, including vinyl acetate, methyl acrylate, ethylacrylate and the like. Other polymeric binders suitable for use in thepresent invention include amorphous polymers that are soluble ordispersible in an oil according to the invention. Commercially availableexamples of suitable polymeric binders include VESTOPLAST 608 or 708.The most preferred polymeric binder is VESTOPLAST S1, and is supplied byCREANOVA Inc., Turner Place, Box 365, Piscataway, N.J. 08855.

Gel

The term “gel” means a gelatinous material, such as petroleum jelly. Agel according to the invention can be used in place of oil, or inaddition to the oil, or in place of the polymeric binder, or in place ofoil and polymeric binder, or alone, or just as another constituent alongwith other constituents, depending upon the viscosity of the gel, itsability to bind soil particles, the type of soil utilized, the otherconstituents utilized, and the desired properties of the surfacematerial. As used herein “a” gel means one or more gels. A gel mayalone, or in combination with one or more other constituents, be addedto a soil or a carrier in any suitable form, such as a liquid (with orwithout heating, depending on the properties of the gel) or as one ormore emulsions.

A preferred gel is PETOX 310, which has the consistency of softpetroleum jelly.

Wax

A soil conditioning product and surface material of the presentinvention may include a wax. The term “wax” means any substance, such assoy wax, other vegetable waxes, microcrystalline-based slack wax, orparaffin wax, that has water repellency properties and softens whenheated to between 80° F. and 400° F., and most preferably between 80° F.and 200° F., so that it can be mixed with (1) a soil, (2) one or more ofan oil, gel and/or polymeric binder to be further mixed with soil or acarrier, or (3) a carrier. As used herein “a” wax means one or morewaxes and a wax used in the invention may or may not bemicrocrystalline. A wax may alone, or in combination with one or moreother constituents, be added to a soil or a carrier in any suitableform, such as a liquid (with or without heating, depending on theproperties of the wax) or as one or more emulsions, powders orpelletized waxes.

The purpose of the wax is to help make the surface material firm,malleable and to add more cohesiveness between the soil particles. Waxesmay also provide some water resistance to surface materials of thepresent invention. Any wax capable of performing these functions may beused. The wax is preferably heated to be mixed with the carrier, a soilor one or more of an oil, gel, and polymeric binder (after which themixture is mixed with a carrier or directly with soil). The wax mayalternatively be added to any of the above as powder, pellets or anemulsified wax.

Among the waxes that may be used to practice the invention is IGI 422.IGI 422 is a microcrystalline-based slack wax. It is recommended for useas a coating or for impregnating for waterproofing, sweeping compounds,metal protection, lubricating, polishing, tanning, and has the followingphysical properties:

ASTM SPECIFICATIONS TEST METHODS METHOD Minimum Maximum TYPICAL DropMelt Point ° F. D 127 — — 166 (74.4) (° C.) Congealing Point ° F. D 938153 (67.2) 167 (75) 160 (71.1) (° C.) Kinematic Viscosity, D 445 16.0 23.0 19.5 cSt @ 210° F. (98.9° C.) Saybolt Viscosity, D 2161 81.9 111.496.4 SUS @ 210° F. (98.9° C.) Solvent Extractables*, D 3235* — — 20.0 Wt% Flash Point (P.M.), ° F. D 93 464 (240)  — 504 (262)  (° C.) Color D1500 — —  3.0 *Modified test method. 1 g sample/30 mls solvent (60% MEK,40% Toluene)FDA STATUS: IGI 422 is not intended for food contact.

IGI 1266U is another wax that may be used to practice the invention. IGI1266U is a relatively high melting, refined paraffin wax and may be usedfor applications which do not require a wax meeting FDA specifications.IGI 1266U has the following physical properties:

Physical Properties

ASTM SPECIFICATIONS TEST METHODS METHOD Minimum Maximum TYPICALCongealing Point ° F. D 938 154 (67.8) 160 (71.1) 157 (69.4) (° C.)Kinematic Viscosity, D 445 6.7 7.8 7.3 cSt @ 210° F. (98.9° C.) SayboltViscosity, D 2161 48.1 51.8 50.1 SUS @ 210° F. (98.9° C.) Oil Content,Wt % D 721 — 1.0 — Color D 1500 — — L1.0 (Off- white/tan) Odor D 1833 —— 2 Needle Penetration, D 1321 — — 12 dmm @ 77° F. (25° C.)FDA STATUS: IGI 1266U is not intended for food contact.

Each of the above-described waxes are sold by The International Group,Inc. (“IGI”), with locations at: 85 Old Eagle School Road, P.O. Box 384,Wayne, Pa. 19087 and 50 Salome Drive, Agincourt, Ontario, Canada M2S2A8.

The most preferred wax is a soy wax. Among the soy waxes that may beused to practice the present invention are hydrogenated soybean oilproduct numbers 86-193-0 and 88-583-0 sold by Archer, Daniels MidlandCompany, Oils and Fats Division, 4666 Faries Parkway, Decatur, Ill. Inalternate embodiments, the soy wax may be a partially hydrogenatedsoybean oil.

Soil

The term “soil” refers to particulate surface material of the earth,whether or not it contains organic matter, and includes one or more ofsand, silt, clay and crushed rock, such as decomposed granite. Soil mayinclude other components, such as pebbles or stones, as well.

A preferred clay comes dried in packages and is called “Mud Gel WyomingBentonite” sold by Baroid Drilling Fluids, P.O. Box 1675, Houston, Tex.77251. However, it is believed that any clay could be used to practicethe invention and the clay could either be dry or moist. Clay istypically used to provide particles that are cohesive when wetted toform a malleable, and sufficiently firm, surface material. A claysurface can be extremely firm when dry.

Virtually any decomposed granite (also referred to as “D.G.”) havingsand particles may be used, including ¼″ D.G. or D.G. finely screened to2 mil size.

Making the Soil Conditioning Product

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) depict some preferredmethods of making preferred soil conditioning products according to theinvention. First, if a polymeric binder and/or wax is used (70), oiland/or gel is preferably used, too. In that case, the oil and/or gel isadded (10, 70) to a vessel (1) and preferably heated (20) to atemperature at which the polymeric binder and/or wax will dissolve ordisperse into the oil or gel, or simply liquify. This is preferably atemperature of between 250° F.-400° F., and most preferably at atemperature of between 265° F.-280° F., and the temperature will dependin part on the melting point(s) of the gel, polymeric binder and/or waxutilized. The binder and/or wax may be added (30 and 40) before or afterthe heating step (20).

If both gel and oil are used, the weight percentage may vary fromessentially all gel to essentially no gel. If polymeric binder is used,the percentage of polymeric binder to oil and/or gel by weight may varyover a wide range from 1 to 90%. In some embodiments the preferredweight percent range of oil and/or gel to polymeric binder is between 10to 90% and in other embodiments between 1-30% of polymeric binder byweight is utilized.

Wax may also be added to the mixture in a preferred weight ratio of1-15% of the total mixture of constituents added to the carrier (or towhich the carrier is added). Soy oil and soy wax may be used in place ofmineral oil and binder, in which case they may be used in approximatelya weight percentage of between 1%-30% wax to oil and/or gel or morepreferably 1%-15% wax to oil and/or gel. The most preferred weight ratioof oil to wax is between 25-100 lbs. of oil to 1 lb. of wax. Similarly,in any mixture of constituents that includes wax it is most preferredthat the wax is present in a weight percentage between 1% and 4%.

The resulting mixture of oil, gel, polymeric binder and/or wax ispreferably mixed (50) with a carrier, preferably in a pug mill, andpreferably while the constituent(s) is still at an elevated temperature(for example, 250° F.-400° F.), at a weight ratio of about 10 to 90%carrier to constituent(s) or between 20% to 80%, 25% to 75% or 40% to70% carrier to constituent(s).

One preferred embodiment includes VESTOPLAST polymeric binder, which isfirst mixed into IGI mineral oil. The ratio can be between 20-80%polymeric binder by weight. Carrier is added to this mixture between50-90% carrier by weight, and most preferably about 70% carrier byweight.

Whether a constituent or mixture of constituents is being properly mixedwith the carrier can be determined by visual inspection—the carrier willappear to be wet rather than dry and there would not be significantuneven mixing, with clumps or pools of different materials in the soilconditioner. The finished soil conditioner is preferably substantiallyuniformly mixed.

Wax or other constituents may be added (80) at any stage of the methodof making soil conditioning products described herein. For example, aconstituent, such as wax, could be dissolved or dispersed in the oil orgel, or emulsified wax could be added to the carrier before or after thecarrier is mixed with an oil, gel, and/or binder mixture. One or more ofan oil, gel, polymeric binder or wax could optionally be added and mixedwith the carrier (60) after the carrier has been mixed with one or moreof the other constituents.

Any of the constituents, and especially the wax, may be added to acarrier as an emulsion. An emulsion of wax (or of any otherconstituent(s)) can be stored and/or shipped in any suitable containers,such as cans, tanks or drums. An emulsion can be added to anotherconstituent(s), or to a carrier or to soil in any suitable manner, suchas by pouring it or spraying it.

Making the Surface Material

Referring now to FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b), a granular soil conditioningproduct according to the invention may be blended or mixed with soil (90and 140) in any suitable manner. Among the suitable techniques aremixing in a pug mill, bucket mixing (also called bucket blending) usinga front-end loader or bulldozer, hand or machine tilling in situ, usinga pharmaceutical blender, or using a concrete mixer. Preferably, a soilconditioning product utilizing a carrier is granular without beingheated and does not have to be heated prior to mixing with soil. Othermaterials, such as other soil materials, organic binder, wax, rubberparticles or pieces, or fibers may be added to, or be present in, thefinished surface material (100 and 150).

If the carrier is an organic binder such as plantago, the surfacematerial could be watered, preferably compressed, and then allowed todry (120, 130, and 190) to provide additional soil adhesion and to helpdisperse constituents such as oil, gel, polymeric binder and/or waxthroughout the soil. For example, if the carrier includes dried andground plantago, the mucilage of the plantago helps provide soiladhesion and to disperse the constituent(s) throughout the soil. Theoil, gel, polymeric binder and/or wax provides water resistance andperhaps some soil adhesion, depending upon the adhesive properties ofthe constituent(s) used.

If the soil conditioner does not include a carrier it is preferablyadded to the soil as one or more liquids or as one or more emulsions.Such a soil conditioner may be heated prior to adding it to soil and thesoil conditioner and soil can be mixed in any suitable fashion, such asby utilizing bucket mixing, raking, hoeing or a concrete mixer.

It is preferred that between 5-200 pounds, and most preferably 10-100 or15-50 pounds, of a soil conditioning product according to the inventionbe added to one ton of soil, depending upon the consistency and type ofthe soil and soil conditioner and the desired characteristics of thesurface material.

The surface material may be applied to a surface in any manner, suchmethods of applying surface material being known to those skilled in theart. Generally, the material would be placed upon the surface at adesired depth (110 and 160) and compacted or compressed (120 and 180),using any suitable method, prior to use. It may also be graded, raked,watered (170) and/or dried (190) prior to use.

The invention may be used for virtually any surface application,especially surfaces such as baseball infields, soccer fields, hand ballcourts, tennis courts, horse training arenas, exercising, horse jumpingsurfaces, horse racing surfaces and equestrian surfaces of all types,parking lots, highway berms and embankments, golf sand bunker liners,golf cart paths, walking or jogging paths. A surface layer utilizing theinvention can be any depth and would generally be between 2″ and 6″depending upon the application, although the surface layer may be of anysuitable depth. For example, a layer of about 6″ or more in depth couldbe used for pitcher's mounds or equestrian racing tracks. A layer on abaseball diamond base path could be between ¼″ and 3″ deep. Embodimentsof the invention (either soil conditioner or surface material) may alsobe used to adhere stones (including flat stones such as flag stone),bricks, pebbles or other material on a path, driveway, barrier, wall(such as a retaining wall used for landscaping) or other structure. Inthat case the soil conditioner or surface material would be inserted,pressed or otherwise placed in any suitable manner into the spacesbetween the material to be adhered.

Having now described preferred embodiments of the invention variationsthat do not depart from the spirit thereof will become apparent toothers. The invention is thus not limited to the preferred embodimentsbut is instead set forth in the following claims and legal equivalentsthereof. Unless stated otherwise in the claims, method steps may beperformed in any order capable of providing a product or resultaccording to the invention.

1. A soil conditioning product for mixing with a provided soil, the soilconditioning product comprising: (a) a carrier; and (b) one or more ofan oil, a gel, a polymeric binder and a wax, wherein the soilconditioning product at an ambient temperature binds together particlesof the soil when mixed with the soil.
 2. The soil conditioning productof claim 1 wherein the carrier includes organic binder.
 3. The soilconditioning product of claim 2 wherein the carrier includes dried andground plantago.
 4. The soil conditioning product of claim 3 wherein thecarrier includes dried and ground plantago seed husk.
 5. The soilconditioning product of claim 4 wherein the carrier comprises 80% ormore dried and ground plantago seed husk.
 6. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 1 that comprises between 20% to 90% by weight ofcarrier.
 7. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises 25%to 80% by weight of carrier.
 8. The soil conditioning product of claim 1that comprises 40% to 60% by weight of carrier.
 9. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 1 that comprises wax.
 10. The soil conditioning productof claim 9 wherein the wax is soy wax.
 11. The soil conditioning productof claim 9 wherein the wax is an emulsified wax.
 12. The soilconditioning product of claim 9 wherein the wax is a hydrogenated soywax.
 13. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises an oil.14. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is soyoil.
 15. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil ismineral oil.
 16. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein theoil is petroleum oil.
 17. The soil conditioning product of claim 13wherein the oil is paraffinic oil.
 18. The soil conditioning product ofclaim 13 wherein the oil is low-aromatic, vapthenic oil.
 19. The soilconditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is cotton seed oil. 20.The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises a polymericbinder.
 21. The soil conditioning product of claim 20 wherein thepolymeric binder comprises amorphous olefin.
 22. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 1 that comprises wax and oil wherein the percentage byweight of wax to oil is between 1% to 30%.
 23. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 1 that comprises wax and oil wherein the percentage byweight of wax to oil is between 1% and 15%.
 24. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 1 that comprises a gel.
 25. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 1 wherein the carrier and one or more of an oil, a gel,a polymeric binder and a wax are mixed together in a pug mill.
 26. Thesoil conditioning product of claim 1 wherein the one or more of an oil,a gel, a polymeric binder and a wax are heated and mixed with thecarrier.
 27. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that includes anoil and a polymeric binder.
 28. The soil conditioning product of claim27 wherein the polymeric binder is dispersed in the oil to create aformulation that is mixed with the carrier.
 29. The soil conditioningproduct of claim 27 that includes 20-80% by weight of carrier.
 30. Asurface material comprising: (a) soil; and (b) a soil conditioningproduct mixed with the soil, the soil conditioning product comprising:(i) a carrier; and (ii) one or more of an oil, a gel, a polymeric binderand a wax, wherein the soil conditioning product at an ambienttemperature binds together particles of the soil when mixed with thesoil.
 31. The surface material of claim 30 wherein the soil comprisesone or more of the group consisting of sand, silt, crushed stone, clayand gravel.
 32. The surface material of claim 30 that comprises between5 to 100 lbs. of soil conditioning product per ton of soil.
 33. Thesurface material of claim 30 wherein the soil comprises crushed stoneand the crushed stone is decomposed granite.
 34. A soil conditioningproduct including one or more of the group consisting of oil, gel,polymeric binder and wax.
 35. A soil conditioning product comprising oneor more of soy oil and soy wax.
 36. A structure comprised of pebbles,stones and/or bricks and the soil conditioner of claim
 1. 37. Thestructure of claim 36 that is a walkway.
 38. The structure of claim 36that is a driveway.
 39. The structure of claim 36 that is a wall. 40.The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that includes a wax, an oil,and a polymeric binder.
 41. The soil conditioning product of claim 24wherein the gel comprises petroleum.